Betting tips / Jake Norton / 31 August 2011 / Leave a comment Bet Now

Today's Ballarat meeting displays the virtues of Country Racing Victoria's Showcase concept.

Four of the eight races to be run at Ballarat today fall into the Showcase category, which offer up-and-coming restricted horses the opportunity to move through the lower grades while competing for prize money that more closely represents that on offer on metropolitan tracks.

It is for this reason that Showcase races generally attract fields containing more promising horses and greater depth, so importantly, from a punter's perspective, are more attractive races to bet in.

Let's take a look at today's Showcase races.

Race 4
This race includes horses with form on city tracks and a couple of up-and-comers from the bush.

Kya returned to racing with a second in a Class 3 on the synthetic at Geelong after finishing her last campaign in the Group 2 Armanasco Stakes. That all looks like good form for a horse dropping back to Class 1 company. The David Brideoake stable is flying at the moment as well, which injects further confidence.

Race 5
At face value, this is the most even race on the card, so we're going to look for some each-way value.

Glorious Choice was a $400,000 yearling who hasn't reached the potential associated with her price tag, but is rarely far from the money, particularly fresh where she has two wins and a second from four first-up runs. Expect her to stretch out over longer trips as her campaign progresses, but given her strong second to the classy Mythical Spirit over 1000m at this track last prep, the 1100m first-up should suit today. Each way all day.

Race 6
Stella's Rose has shown great form to date this campaign, notching a brace of fresh wins.

She meets a better surface than she's been racing on of late today, but her form on drier tracks is reasonable enough for that not to be of concern. She has drawn to get the run of the race and with the likes of Tornado Jack and Compound at the top of the market, Stella's Rose looks a great each-way value proposition.

Race 8
Happy to make Brungle Cry the best bet of the day.

He followed a good second to the smart Lopov at Caulfield two starts back with a dominant display at Geelong. Glen Boss replaces Jack Hill today, so nothing lost there. Expecting Brungle Cry to win, and win well.

Recommended bets

Race 4 #2 Kya
Race 5 #2 Glorious Choice (each-way)
Race 6 #7 Stella's Rose (each-way)
Race 8 #9 Brungle Cry (best)